Filner Declares Support For Myrtle Cole During Cesar Chavez Rally

Mayor Bob Filner told a crowd at a Cesar Chavez Day rally that he supports Myrtle Cole for City Council District 4.

Filner referenced his recent attempt to require hoteliers to pay their workers living wages, which ultimately was unsuccessful. He said that’s why it’s important voters elect Lorena Gonzalez to state Assembly and Cole to the City Council.

Mayor Bob Filner told a crowd at a Cesar Chavez Day rally that he supports Myrtle Cole for City Council District 4.

“We had some leverage," Filner said. "They needed me to sign something so I said 'let’s talk about the living wage.' We didn’t get as far as we should have. That’s why we need Myrtle on the City Council. But we’ve got a commitment to bring that issue to the City Council within a few weeks.”

Filner also told the crowd to support him when he takes on these issues.

"When we bring up these issues and they bring hundreds of people to the City Council to say I'm not doing right for the city of San Diego, we need hundreds of people there to support me," he said. "We need letters to the editor to say 'he's not as crazy as he seems.'"

Cole is in a runoff with candidate Dwayne Crenshaw in a special election for the District 4 City Council seat in southeastern San Diego. The final election will be May 21.